Verbena plant named ‘Balfirelav’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant named ‘Balfirelav’, characterized by its medium lavender and white-colored flowers medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Verbena hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Balfirelav’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Verbenaplant botanically known as Verbena hybrid and hereinafter referred to bythe cultivar name ‘Balfirelav’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in ArroyoGrande, Calif. during May 2014. The objective of the breeding programwas the development of Verbena cultivars that are suited for use inhanging baskets, durable to environmental stresses, and have amounded-spreading growth habit.

The new Verbena cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female(seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Verbena hybridbreeding selection coded 5919 not patented, characterized by itswhite-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous,mounded-spreading growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the newcultivar is the proprietary Verbena hybrid breeding selection coded9987-3 not patented, characterized by its medium purple-colored flowers,medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, mounded-spreading growthhabit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a singleflowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollinationduring April 2015 in a controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceApril 2015 in Arroyo Grande, Calif., and West Chicago, Ill. hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all ofthe characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balfirelav’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Verbena plant:

-   -   1. Medium lavender and white-colored flowers;    -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Moderately vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female and maleparents primarily in having a different flower color.

Of the many commercially available Verbena cultivars, the most similarin comparison to the new cultivar is AZTEC Lavender ‘Balazlavi’, U.S.Plant Pat. No. 12,787. However, in side by side comparisons, plants ofthe new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balazlavi’ in at least thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color that is        different from plants of ‘Balazlavi’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have white coloration only at the        base of the two lateral petals and the lower petal and as such        do not have a true flower “eye” unlike plants of ‘Balazlavi’        that have white coloration at the base of all five petals; and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have larger diameter        inflorescences than plants of ‘Balazlavi’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balfirelav’. Theplants were grown in 4-inch pots for 12 weeks in a greenhouse in WestChicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch one week after transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balfirelav’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of‘Balfirelav’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in January 2018 under naturallight conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouseunder conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Theplants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4-inch pots for 12 weeksutilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch one weekafter transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained atapproximately 68° F. to 72° F. (20° C. to 22° C.) during the day andapproximately 64° F. to 66° F. (18° C. to 19° C.) during the night.Supplemental lighting was used. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Verbena hybrid ‘Balfirelav’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Verbena hybrid breeding selection            coded 5919, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary Verbena hybrid breeding selection            coded 9987-3, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 9 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 24 to 28            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 5 to 7 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,            mounded-spreading.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 12.0 cm. Width: Approximately 41.0 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal            branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:            Approximately 3.        -   Branch.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength: Strong.            Length: Approximately 18.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately            3.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 3.5 cm.            Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and            nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Mixture of N92C and            colorless, transparent. Color of young stems: 144A. Color of            mature stems: 146B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 14. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple.            Arrangement: Opposite.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to stem, obtuse angle with            age. Shape: Ovate to oblong. Margin: Crenate. Apex: Broadly            acute to rounded. Base: Truncate. Venation pattern: Pinnate.            Length of mature leaf: Approximately 4.5 cm. Width of mature            leaf: Approximately 3.3 cm. Texture of upper surface:            Moderately pubescent. Texture of lower surface: Densely            pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular            hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper            surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to 137A with            venation of 147C. Color of lower surface of young and mature            foliage: Closest to 137B with venation of 147C.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a            mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Color: 147C to 147D.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balfirelav’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            5 to 7 days.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Corymb. Shape: Hemispherical,            broad ovate when viewed in profile. Quantity per plant:            Approximately 3. Fragrance: None detected. Length or height:            2.8 cm. Width: Approximately 5.8 cm. Quantity of fully open            flowers per inflorescence: Approximately 16.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:            Approximately 4.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm.            Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and            nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Mixture of N92C and            colorless, transparent. Color: 137B.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Sessile, salverform.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity of            unopened inflorescences per plant: Approximately 6.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Elongated, globular at apex.            Length: Approximately 1.3 cm. Diameter: Approximately            3.0 mm. Color: Petal portion N87A, sepal portion 137B.        -   Corolla.—Shape: Round. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 cm.            Depth: Approximately 3.2 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused at base forming a tube. Shape:            Obovate. Arrangement: Free to slightly touching. Appearance:            Dull. Margin: Entire, weak undulation. Apex: Emarginate.            Length of upper petals from tube: Approximately 9.0 mm.            Width of upper petals: Approximately 7.0 mm. Length of            lateral petals from tube: Approximately 9.0 mm. Width of            lateral petals: Approximately 8.0 mm. Length of lower petal            from tube: Approximately 1.0 cm. Width of lower petal:            Approximately 1.0 cm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous            with glandular pubescent base. Texture of lower surface:            Sparsely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and            nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Mixture of N92C and            colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface when first            open: N87B with medium “eye” area of NN155D at base of            lateral and lower petals, 145C at throat opening. Color of            lower surface when first open: NN155D with a heavy overlay            of N87D. Color of upper surface when fully open: N87C with            medium “eye” area of NN155D at base of lateral and lower            petals, 145B at throat opening; with senescence transitions            to 96C to 96D. Color of lower surface when fully open:            NN155D with an overlay of N87D. Color of whiskers            surrounding the opening of the corolla tube: NN155D.        -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 2.0 cm. Diameter at            proximal end: Approximately 1.0 mm. Diameter at distal end:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of outer surface: Upper half            moderately glandular pubescent, lower half glabrous. Gland            color: Colorless, transparent. Texture of inner surface:            Densely pubescent. Color of outer surface: 145D with 145C at            distal end. Color of inner surface: 145D with 145B at throat            opening.        -   Calyx.—Shape: Tubular with 5 acute tips. Length:            Approximately 1.1 cm. Width: Approximately 3.0 mm.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused at base. Shape:            Linear. Apex: Acute. Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Width:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Moderately            pubescent. Texture of outer surface: Densely pubescent with            a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:            Mixture of N92C and colorless, transparent. Color of inner            and outer surfaces: 137B.        -   Stipules.—Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Length:            Approximately 5.0 mm. Width at base: Approximately 1.0 mm.            Texture of inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer            surface: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and            nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Mixture of N92C and            colorless, transparent. Color of inner and outer surfaces:            144A at base transitioning to 137A at apex.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4,            didynamous. Stamen length of longer pair: Approximately            2.0 mm. Stamen length of shorter pair: Approximately 1.0 mm.            Anther shape: Bilobed, ovoid. Anther length: Approximately            1.0 mm. Anther color: 144A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen            color: 1D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil            length: Approximately 1.7 cm. Stigma shape: Bifid. Stigma            length: Less than 1.0 mm. Stigma color: 137A. Style length:            Approximately 1.6 cm. Style color: 145D with 145B near            stigma. Ovary diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary texture:            Glabrous. Ovary color: 144A.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Verbena has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plantnamed ‘Balfirelav’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.